Car news, 12 November ’24: Zeekr’s electric people mover priced from $135,900, V8 GMC Yukon Denali priced from $169,990, and more
Olek Novak
Journalist
Every important car news story breaking today, in one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Tuesday 12 November 2024. Notably in car news today: Chinese carmaker Zeekr has announced the full pricing and specifications of its electric 009 people mover, while GMC confirmed details of its own upper large, V8-powered family hauler in the form of the body-on-frame Yukon Denali.
Zeekr reveals pricing and specification for its 009 electric people mover
Zeekr, the new Chinese automaker owned by Geely, has announced pricing and specs for its Kia Carnival-rivalling 009 people mover.
Priced to start from $135,900 before on-road costs, or $139,900 for the six seat variant, the 009 will feature dual-motor all-wheel drive with outputs of 450kW/693Nm. Powering the 009 is a large 116kWh battery pack. Electric range is 582km (WLTP).
The Zeekr 009 people mover will be priced from $135,900
The 009 people mover will be very well-equipped as standard and will feature aviation-style second row seats, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, 15-inch OLED centre touchscreen, a 17-inch rear OLED screen and a 35.9-inch head-up display.
Also standard is heating, ventilation and massage for the first two rows, 30 speaker Yamaha surround sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seven USB-C ports and nappa leather upholstery.
The Zeekr 009 is now available for pre-order in Australia.
GMC Yukon Denali priced for Australia
GMC has announced the pricing and standard specifications for its YukonDenali large SUV.
Priced in Australia from $169,990 before on-road costs, the Yukon will be available in a sole Denali grade and is the first time it has been offered on Australian shores.
GMC has priced the Yukon Denali for Australia
GMSV has claimed that the Yukon Denali is the only eight-seat SUV in Australia offered with a V8 engine, however the entry-level Nissan Patrol Ti with its V8 engine has seating for eight.
The eight seat SUV will arrive in Australia from the second quarter of 2025, with orders now open.
Bentley’s first EV will be a smaller, urban SUV, due in 2026
Bentley has confirmed it will bring full-electric power to an SUV first and foremost, but not until 2026.
Described as an “urban SUV”, it’s set to be a smaller SUV than the current 5305mm long Bentayga.
Bentley has teased its first-ever EV
Bentley plans to have its entire lineup battery powered, but not until 2035.
It’ll continue to push for plug-in hybrids and pure ICE vehicles, but only for as long as the market demands it – according to Motor1.
The brand will invest £2.5 billion (AUD$4.8 billion) in a programme dedicated for future products and a new carbon-neutral headquarters opening in 2025.
Jaguar to reveal concept car on December 2 on new JEA platform
Jaguar is set to pull the covers off a new concept vehicle in early December and it’s set to be a four-door GT car.
The news comes as Jaguar completely repositions its branding with the discontinuation of its entire model lineup due to poor sales, including its most popular model, the F-Pace SUV.
The only teaser image that exists for the Jaguar GT coupe so far
Think of the new JLR concept car to be a rival to the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT, however Jaguar has said the model will be a “copy of nothing”.
The model will ride on a Jaguar-specific, JEA platform and will launch around 2026, with at least another two models to follow on this architecture.
Expect to hear much more at the unveiling on December 2.
Chasing Cars takes deep dive into Chinese automakers with new guide
If you’re a little bit daunted by all the new car Chinese brands cropping up in Australia, you’re not alone.
To help make sense of it all, Chasing Cars has written a handy guide on the Chinese automakers in Australia, the cars they produce and their future plans.
The MG4 electric hatch is one of the best-regarded Chinese vehicles in Australia
In the guide, we take a look at the likes of BYD, MG, Deepal, LDV, Geely, Zeekr and more.
We have also detailed potential future brands that could arrive and which models they could sell on our local shores.
The first part of our long-term review wrap-up for our Hyundai Kona Electric was published.
In this video, Chasing Cars journalist Olek Novak shares the first of his five hits and misses from living with the Kona Electric Standard Range for six months.
Part one of the wrap-up focuses on Novak’s assessment of the interior, practicality and reliability of the Kona, which delivered an almost fault-free ownership experience over the test period.
However, Novak did note a few areas for improvement including some hardcabinplastics and ergonomic issues.
Stay tuned for part two, when Novak covers off the efficiency and range, safetyfeatures and on-road driving experience, as well as giving his final verdict: would he happily take ownership of the Kona Electric or is he happy to hand the keys back?
